For Tata Chem, farm and consumer biz to be growth drivers

For Tata Chemicals, part of the $100-billion Tata conglomerate, its farm and consumer businesses will be key growth drivers in the years to come.

“We have identified verticals such as farm inputs and food and nourishment as the most promising areas for the company,” said R Mukundan, Managing Director of Tata Chemicals Ltd.

Tata Chemicals, which leads the branded salt market with a market share over 65 per cent, “is doing well in the business of water purifiers and pulses as well,” he said.

The company caters to about 10 million farmers, covering about 85 per cent of the country’s arable land with farm inputs such as hybrid seeds, urea, phosphatic fertilisers and crop nutrition and crop protection products through its subsidiary Rallis.

Growing footprint It currently sells these products through 800 stores across the country.

In the food products division, it recently launched i-Shakthi garam masalas in the Northern market.

“At present we have about seven different masalas . We will slowly increase the range and our geographical footprint as well in the coming months,” Mukundan said.

The company intends to intensify its focus in high-tech products such as specialty fertilisers, herbicides, weedicides and high-grade seeds.

“Our vision is to deliver nutritious products that are branded and packaged for quality and convenience. We are well positioned to roll out these products through our existing Tata Salt distribution network,” said Mukundan. According to him, these products now reach households through 70,000 retail stores. This number will go up to one lakh by the year-end.

Packaged products Rapid urbanisation will drive consumers towards packaged and branded products from loose products.

“This essentially means a great market opportunity for us in food and nourishment,” he said.

It also expanded its Tata Swach range of water purifiers from high-end reverse osmosis (RO) purifiers to basic filters too.

COMMENT NOW